Stephanie Weaver

Lidl and McDonald’s are likely to take up residence as part of a new retail development on one of the main routes into Wellingborough.

Developers for the new retail and leisure site in London Road in the town have confirmed McDonald’s will be opening a drive-thru restaurant there.

The protest held in opposition to the Lidl plans

It comes after the plans by regeneration specialist St Modwen were approved for the brownfield site back in April.

Gary Morris, senior development manager at St Modwen, said the new restaurant would provide more choice for people in Wellingborough.

He said: “We’re delighted to confirm that McDonald’s will open a drive-thru, which will complement the existing catering offer both in the town centre and at the adjacent Castlefields retail park.

“The site itself has been derelict for some time so we’re looking forward to bringing it back into use.”

The plans also include a new 22,500 sq ft foodstore along with additional shop units, and the developer said details of further occupiers will be announced in the coming weeks when lettings are completed.

While the fast food chain has been confirmed, a spokesman for St Modwen said they were unable to confirm who would be taking the foodstore unit.

However, an application has been submitted on behalf of the developers to Wellingborough Council to make non-material minor amendments to the original plans.

As part of the application, several documents have been sent to the council which have been published on the authority’s website.

A letter from GL Hearn on behalf of the developer states: “We can now confirm that the occupiers of these units will be Lidl and McDonald’s.

“As the specification for the units has been reviewed in relation to the requirements of these occupiers a number of small changes to the approved planning drawings are now required.”

Documents seen by the Telegraph also show a Lidl floor plan, and St Modwen told the Telegraph earlier this year that the development would include a new discount foodstore.

Construction work on the development has already started and is due to be completed next summer.